Social Network Method and Apparatus

1. A social networking apparatus, comprising: a first project involvement module, implemented by at least one processing device, that is operative to determine a first degree of involvement with a project for a first person; a second project involvement module, implemented by the at least one processing device, that is operative to determine, independently of the first degree of involvement, a second degree of involvement with the project for a second person; a combined project involvement module, implemented by the at least one processing device, that is operative to determine a combined degree of involvement with the project for the first and second person; a relationship score module, implemented by the at least one processing device, that is operative to determine a score based on the first degree of involvement, the second degree of involvement, and the combined degree of involvement; wherein the score, s, is determined by the equation: s = ∑ j = 1 n ⁢ h 1 , j h s × h 2 , j h s × h 1 , j + h 2 , j h t , j where h 1,j represents a first effort during a j'th standardized period, h 2,j represents a second effort during the j'th standardized period, h s represents the standardized period and h i,j represents an overall effort by substantially all project participants during the j'th standardized period; and a relationship determination module, implemented by the at least one processing device, that is operative to determine an existence and strength of a social relationship between the first and second person by comparing the score to at least one predetermined value.

2. The social networking apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first degree of involvement is based on the first effort expressed as hours billed to the project by the first person during the standardized period, the second degree of involvement is based on the second effort expressed as hours billed to the project by the second person during the standardized period and the combined degree of involvement is based on the first and second effort and the overall effort expressed as hours billed to the project by substantially all participants in the project during the standardized period.

3. The social networking apparatus of claim 2 wherein the first degree of involvement is based on a ratio between the first effort and the standardized period, the second degree of involvement is based on a ratio between the second effort and the standardized period and the combined degree of involvement is based on a ratio between a sum of the first and second efforts and the overall effort.

4. The social networking apparatus of claim 1 wherein the social relationship is determined based on whether the score value transcends one of the at least one predetermined value.

5. In a processing device, a social networking method comprising: determining by at least one processing device, a first degree of involvement with a project for a first person; determining, independently of the first degree of involvement, by the at least one processing device, a second degree of involvement with the project for a second person; determining by the at least one processing device, a combined degree of involvement with the project for the first and second person; determining by the at least one processing device, a score, s, determined by the equation: s = ∑ j = 1 n ⁢ h 1 , j h s × h 2 , j h s × h 1 , j + h 2 , j h t , j where h 1,j represents a first effort during a j'th standardized period, h 2,j represents a second effort during the j'th standardized period, h s represents the standardized period and h i,j represents an overall effort by substantially all project participants during the j'th standardized period; and determining by the at least one processing device, an existence and strength of a social relationship between the first and second person by comparing the score to at least one predetermined value.

6. The social networking method of claim 5 wherein the first degree of involvement is based on the first effort expressed as hours billed to the project by the first person during a standardized period, the second degree of involvement is based on the second effort expressed as hours billed to the project by the second person during the standardized period and the combined degree of involvement is based on the first and second effort and the overall effort expressed as hours billed to the project by substantially all participants in the project during the standardized period.

7. The social networking method of claim 6 wherein the first degree of involvement is based on a ratio between the first effort and the standardized period, the second degree of involvement is based on a ratio between the second effort and the standardized period and the combined degree of involvement is based on a ratio between a sum of the first and second efforts and the overall effort.

8. The social networking method of claim 5 wherein the social relationship is determined based on whether the score value transcends the predetermined value.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising executable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to: determine a first degree of involvement with a project for a first person; determine, independently of the first degree of involvement, a second degree of involvement with the project for a second person; determine a combined degree of involvement with the project for the first and second person; determine a score, s, determined by the equation: s = ∑ j = 1 n ⁢ h 1 , j h s × h 2 , j h s × h 1 , j + h 2 , j h t , j where h 1,j represents a first effort during a j'th standardized period, h 2,j represents a second effort during the j'th standardized period, h s the standardized period and h i,j represents an overall effort by substantially all project participants during the j'th standardized period; and determine an existence and strength of a social relationship between the first and second person by comparing the score to at least one predetermined value.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 wherein the first degree of involvement is based on the first effort expressed as hours billed to the project by the first person during the standardized period, the second degree of involvement is based on the second effort expressed as hours billed to the project by the second person during the standardized period and the combined degree of involvement is based on the first and second effort and the overall effort expressed as hours billed to the project by substantially all participants in the project during the standardized period.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10 wherein the first degree of involvement is based on a ratio between the first effort and the standardized period, the second degree of involvement is based on a ratio between the second effort and the standardized period and the combined degree of involvement is based on a ratio between a sum of the first and second efforts and the overall effort.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 wherein the social relationship is determined based on whether the score value transcends the predetermined value.